House

House is used in several different ways within
O&P and in the wider BDSM scene, but always to represent a group of
individuals pursuing some common purpose and wishing to establish some
form of identity together. The construction "The House of X" is a very
common way of titling such households.

Much of the imagery and symbolism in BDSM comes from historical holders
of power, such as monarchs and feudal lords. Royal and noble dynasties
often took a name of the form the "House of York" or the "House of
Grimaldi" to identify themselves, either based on a geographical
location ("York") or their founder ("Grimaldo Canella".)

Modern science fiction has used similar terminology when putting
quasi-aristocratic households in a fantasy context. For example, the
slave-dealing business run from the House of Cernus in John Norman's Gor
series; and the struggle between House Atreides and House Harkonnen for
control of the planet Arrakis in Frank Herbert's "Dune". These fictional
houses share the key features of historical houses: the idea of a common
identity and name, a leader, and retainers or servants.

A House provides an alternative model to the
leather family, for groups of people living
together in a
D/s structure. For some people who prefer more patriarchal styles of
dominance, the idea of a hierarchical and even formal or ritualised
household may sit more comfortably than a family. Most D/s Households
have a clearly identified head of household, who may be referred to as
the master
or mistress.

Many D/s Households are prominent within their local BDSM scene, and may
organise events or their local chapter of an organisation such as
MAsT. Having a shared household identity is both
convenient and affirming, in the same way that many married couples
prefer to share a surname.

Similar names are also uses by some BDSM publishers, such as the House
of Milan and House of Gord, and fashion businesses, such as House of
Harlot. This usage also overlaps the mainstream concept of a "publishing
house" or a "fashion house", but has an added dimension within BDSM due
to its historical and modern D/s associations.

The term House is also rarely used to refer to a business of
professional domination. Similar to the usage in publishing or fashion,
it represents a commercial venture. A House of Domination is an
establishment from where multiple professional dominas operate.